Boat propulsion and steering



Aug. 7, 1945. R. J. wADsyyoRTH ETAL, =2 ',3\81,791

BOAT PR'ULsIoN ANDV STEERING Filed Dec.,22, 1944 Patented Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED@ STATES PATENT-'orsica-] ,zgjfifnneifV l BOAT PROPULSION AND STEERING f f .y Robert J. Wadsworth and Owen` K. ye, y Indianapolis, Ind.

Application December 22, 1944, KSerial No. 569;?73

6' claims. (01.46993) This invention relates to a, toy boat and has for a primary object the provision andrmeans for propelling the boat inl various selected 'directions without having to employ a separate rudder. A further primary object oftherinvention is to provide such a structure in exceedingly simple form that may be produced in quantity at a relatively low price and yet which will be durable in the hands of the users.

These and other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which Fig. 1` is a View vin side elevation of a structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 J abottom plan view;

Fig. 3, a View intransverse section on the line 3--3 in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; y

Fig. 4, a. view in perspective of the propeller shaft carrying member; and

Fig. 5, a detail in section through the propeller illustrating the attachment of the propeller shaft.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several View in the drawing.

Referring rst to Fig. 4, a. propeller shaft care rying member I is formed out of any suitable material, such as a wire. On the forward end of this member I0 is upturned a length to form a post II. The rear end of the member II'I is carried downwardly and around upwardly and The shaft IEisv carried freely throughthe eye I2 of the-supporting member Ill to have the hook 2U presented forwardly thereof. The shaftl I6 is free'to rock with alimited travel laterally of the member I0. An elastic member of some sort, herein lshown as a rubber band ZI', is engaged under the hook,` 2u 'of the shaft I6 and stretched forwardly under the hull I3 to loop vover `,some securing means, herein shown as a'post 22. The member 2I should be sufcientlytaut initially by winding the propeller IIrinareversedirection from that which it will travel to propel the hull I3; ltliefband 2| will be twisted and cause to impart a forward-pull onv the shaft. I6. Sumcient energyv will be stored inthe twisted band 2I"`to`"revolve the propeller I1 when released. Also, the bandwill have sufficient pull on the shaft I6 to retain the member I0 against either one of the posts I4 or I5 as the member I0 may be initially positioned for direction of travel of the hull I3. That is, the member I0 may be held against the post I4 as shown in the solid lines in Fig. 2 to cause the hull I3 to travel in one direction, and when the member Ill is shifted against the post I5 as indicated by the dash lines, the boat will be caused to turn in the other direction. The member Il] can also be held in alignment with the keel line of the hull I3 when so posiforwardly to form a loop through which is left an eye I2.

The post II, Fig. 1, is entered frictionally within a bore provided in the underside of the hull I3 to extend substantially vertically therein on the keel line. Preferably, the post II is inclined forwardly from the main part of the member I0, Fig. 4, whereby that main portion slopes downwardly, Fig. 1, when the post II is vertically positioned in the hull I3. On each side of the keel line of the hull I3 is provided a post I4 and I5 respectively to be in .the path of the member I when swung to either side of that -keel line, as indicated in Fig. 2.

A propeller shaft I6 is formed out of any suitable material, such as a wire and is carried through a propeller I'l by a rear portion, from which an end I8 is bent around and carried back into the propeller to force the shaft I6 to drive the propeller I'I. A washer I9 is carried on the shaft I6 on the forward side of the propeller I'I. The forward end of the shaft I6 is formed into a hook 20.

tioned since the pull of the band 2I may then be in that same direction. The washer I9 serves` as a bearing fixed between the end of the member Ill and the forward side of the propeller II.

While we have herein shown and described our invention in the onev particular form, it is obvious that changes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a boat hull, a pro-` peller; a. propeller shaft carrying the propeller; a member hinged at one end to the hull substantially on the keel line thereof to permit swinging by a rear portion to either side of the keel line; means revolubly supporting said shaft on said member; stop means limiting the travel of said member on each side of the keel line; said shaft extending forwardly of said supporting means; a propeller drive motor fixed to the hull forwardly of the hinge of said member and elastically engaging the forward portion of said shaft to impart both'a rotary action and forward pull thereon.

2. In combination with a boat hull, a propeller;

a propeller shaft carrying the propeller; a member hinged at one end to the hull substantially limited lateral swinging of said propeller shaftto permit the shaft to remain in the line of pull of said elastic engagement regardless of shifting of said member rear portion.

3. The combination of a boat hull; a rody having an upturned end rockably engaged with the hull to swing laterally of the hull; stop means limiting the degree of swinging of the rod; a b earingvonv the rear portion of the rod; a shaft extending. through. thebearing with a fit to permit lateral swinging of the shaft relative to the rod; a propeller on the shaft rearwardly of said bearing.; and an elastic member fixed by a forward end to said hull and engaging by its rear end with the forward end of said shaft, whereby winding of the propeller will store up energy in the` elastic member to. drive the propeller in a reverse direction.

4'. A toy boat-I comprising ahull; a wire having a post retained in the underside of the hull rotatable on substantially al verticaly line; said wire extending from the lower end of the post externally of and along the underside of the hull to extend a distance to the stern thereof; an eye downturned'v `from the wire `at its rear end; a wire freely carried through said. eye; a propeller xed on the rear end of said last wire; a hook on the forward end of said last wire forward of said eye; and an elastic band engaged by a forward end to the underside of said 11u11 toward the forward end thereof and engaged by its rear end over said wire hook.

5. A toy boat comprising a hull; a wire lhaving a post retained in the underside of the hull rotatable on-substantially a vertical line; said wire extending from the lower end of the post externally of and along the underside of the hull to extend a distance to the stern thereof; an eye downturned from the wire at its rear end; a wire freely carried through said eye; a, propeller xed on the rear end of said last wire; a hook on the forward end of said last wire forward of said eye; and an elastic band engaged by a fory ward end toA the underside of said hull toward the forward end thereof and engaged by its rear end over said wire hook; said first wire portion extending from said. post being inclined downwardly.

6.v A toy boat comprising a hull; a wire having a. post retained iny the underside of the hull rotatable on substantially a vertical line; said wire extending from the lower end of the post externally of. and along the underside of the hull to extend. adistance to the stern thereof; an eye downturned from the wirel at its rear end; a wire freely carried through said eye;v a propeller fixed on the rear lend of said last Wire; a hook on the forward end of said last wire forward of said eye;Y and an elastic band engaged by a forward end to, the underside of said hull toward the forward end thereof and engaged by its rear end over said wire hook; and spaced apart posts between which said flrst wire may swing.

ROBERT J. WADSWORTH. OWEN K. NYE. 

